Staff Sensor Validation & Characterisation Engineer

About the role

We are seeking an experienced Staff Sensor Validation & Characterization Engineer to serve as a technical leader in the validation and characterization of our next-generation LiDAR sensor products. This is a player-coach role: you will personally drive critical test and characterization work hands-on while providing technical direction across the validation pipeline.

You will own sensor performance characterization across lab and real-world environments, with a strong end-to-end systems perspective that connects measured performance to top-level sensor requirements, algorithm behavior, and opto-mechanical design. You will collaborate closely with systems, algorithms, firmware, hardware, and optics teams to define test strategies, execute validation campaigns, and deliver data-driven insights that drive product development and release readiness for automotive-grade LiDAR.

About us

Aeva’s mission is to bring the next wave of perception to a broad range of applications from automated driving to industrial robotics, consumer electronics, consumer health, security, and beyond. Aeva is transforming autonomy with its groundbreaking sensing and perception technology that integrates all key LiDAR components onto a silicon photonics chip in a compact module. Aeva 4D LiDAR sensors uniquely detect instant velocity in addition to 3D position, allowing autonomous devices like vehicles and robots to make more intelligent and safe decisions.

What you'll do

• Own the validation and characterization strategy for LiDAR sensor performance — defining test plans, metrics, acceptance criteria, and traceability to system and component requirements.

• Lead hands-on sensor characterization in the lab: set up and operate test equipment, configure sensors under controlled conditions, execute performance measurements (range, accuracy, resolution, reflectivity response, latency, etc.), and document results.

• Plan and execute real-world field validation campaigns — designing test routes/scenarios, instrumenting vehicles, collecting synchronized sensor and reference data, and analyzing performance across real-world operating conditions.

• Develop automated test frameworks, data collection pipelines, and analysis tools to improve repeatability, throughput, and insight from characterization data.

• Analyze lab and field test data to identify performance trends, root-cause failures, and regressions; partner with algorithms, firmware, and hardware teams to drive corrective action.

• Define and maintain validation interfaces and performance budgets in coordination with systems and engineering teams — ensuring measured results map clearly to specification compliance.

• Support design verification activities, release readiness reviews, and customer/OEM validation requests with rigorous test evidence and clear reporting.

• Serve as the senior technical liaison for validation and characterization across engineering disciplines and in design/milestone reviews; provide technical guidance on critical deliverables as needed.

What you'll have

• 10+ years of experience in sensor validation, characterization, or test engineering, with end-to-end ownership of complex validation programs through development and release.

• Deep hands-on experience characterizing LiDAR, radar, camera, or similar sensor systems in both controlled lab and real-world environments. Automotive LiDAR experience strongly preferred.

• Strong background in designing and executing performance test campaigns — including test plan development, instrumentation setup, data acquisition, and statistical analysis of results.

• Proficiency with lab test equipment and measurement techniques relevant to optical/time-of-flight sensors (e.g., power meters, spectrometers, motion stages, reference targets, GNSS/IMU logging, data loggers).

• Experience with data analysis tools and scripting (Python, MATLAB, or similar) for processing large sensor datasets and generating actionable characterization reports.

• Working knowledge of sensor system architecture — including how opto-mechanical design, DSP algorithms, and hardware limitations affect measurable performance and test methodology.

• Familiarity with ASPICE, ISO 26262, or ISO/SAE 21434 verification workflows is a plus, particularly as they relate to validation evidence and documentation.

• Strong analytical and communication skills; comfortable driving technical trade-offs across multidisciplinary teams.

What's in it for you

• Be the first validation and characterization engineer in our Bangalore office in this domain — help establish the team, culture, and technical foundation from the ground up

• Be part of a fast-paced and dynamic team